Friday 7 October 2011

The eighth labor: The mares of Diomedes


Character 

Heracles: Heracles was one of the Greatest Heroes in Greek Mythology. (Grimal 1996) His parents were Zeus and Alcmene. (The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d)  It was said that as an act of hatred in which Hera had for Heracles , she drove him mad, and caused him to slaughter his wife and kids. (The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d)  As a result, his punishment was to complete the 12 labors given to the Greek Hero by his cousin Eurystheus.  (The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d) 

Diomedes  : Diomedes was  a giant as well as the King of Thrace. (Atsma  2000) He belonged in the Bistonian tribe. (Atsma 2000) Lastly he was the son of the god Ares.  (Atsma 2000)

The mares : The mares were known as man eating horses.( Mares of Diomedes n.d, ) They were often describe as wild and uncontrollable. (Mares of Diomedes n.d, )They belonged to King Diomedes.  (Mares of Diomedes n.d,)

Eurystheus: Eurystheus was the cousin of Hercacles, as well as the person responsible for assigning the 12 labors to the Greek Hero.  (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d) Although Heracles was suppose to be older than Eurystheus, because of the knowledge that the first child born would eventually rule the kingdoms in the future.  (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d) Hera decided to delay the birth of Heracles and sped up the birth of Eurystheus.  (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d)  Thus making Heracles younger than Eurystheus.  (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d)


(Labor) 
The eighth labor, which the hero Heracles had to complete, was to bring the four mares that belonged to Diomedes back to Eurystheus. (Grimal 1996)  However the catch was that the four mares were flesh-eating animals and their names were Podargus, Lampoon, Xanthus and finally Deinus. (Grimal 1996) After having brought back the four mares back to Eurystheus , he decided to set them free.( Perseus Project n.d)  The mares eventually wandered back to Mount Olmpos and were eaten by the wild beast which dwells there. (Perseus Project n.d)

Referencing  

Atsma ,A 2000,  Diomedes, Available from: < http://www.theoi.com/Heros/DiomedesThrakios.html >. [ 21 September 2011]  

Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology n.d , Eurystheus,  Available from: < http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/eurystheus.html >. [ 22 September 2011]



Grimal, P 1996,  The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, ,  Blackwell Publishing ,  Oxford

Mares of Diomedes n.d, Mares of Diomedes, Available from: < http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/MaresOfDiomedes.html>. [ 21 September 2011]  

Perseus Project n.d, The man eating horses of Diomedes, Available from: < http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/horses.html >. [ 22 September 2011]  

The Greek Gods of Mythology n.d , Heracles,  Available from:  < http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~baheintz/heroes.html >.  [ 22 september 2011] 







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